The Mini Badass

Chapter 31

Our group retreated to the cell block, Daryl joining our group again, having come to his senses.

 Carl and I sitting on the stairs listening to everyone argue. "We're not leaving." Rick says, reloading his gun. "We can't stay." Hershel fights as Rick throws his rifle over his shoulder.

"What if there's another sniper?"  Carol asks and I shift to lean against my friend beside me, keeping an eye on our new addition. "A wood pallet won't stop those rounds." Maggie adds in also refilling her gun. 

"We can't even go outside." Beth says, rocking Judith in her arms. "Not in the daylight." Carol says, blood soaking her shirt. 

"Rick says we're not running, we're not running." Glenn backs up our leader and Maggie sits on the step behind me.

"No, better to live like rats." Merle butts in from locked inside the main room. "You got a better idea?" Rick asks the man as my glare hardens on him. "Yeah, we should've slid out of here last night and lived to fight another day."

"But we lost that window didn't we?" He asks, chuckling as he leans against the barred door. "I'm sure he's got scouts on every road out of this place by now."

"We ain't scared of that prick." Daryl tells his brother, moving closer to the door. "Y'all should be."

"That truck through the fence thing." Merle says and I watch Michonne wipe her katana down. "That was just him ringing the doorbell. We might have some thick walls to hide behind but he's got the guns and the numbers."

"Can we put him in D block?" I ask the group getting sick of listening to Merle. "He's got a point. Daryl shuts me down and I stand up.

"He started this!" I shout at Daryl, marching up to the man while pointing to his brother. "What's the difference who started it, what do we do?" Beth asks, pushing Daryl and I away from each other.

"I said we should leave." Hershel says from his chair. "Now Axel's dead. We can't just sit here." 

Rick doesn't say anything just goes to walk away again. "Get back here!" Hershel shouts our leader making me jump. 

Rick stops and Hershel hobbles up to him. "You're slipping Rick." The old man says as I plop down beside Carl again. "We've all seen it, we understand why."

"You once said this isn't a democracy. Now you have to own up to that." Hershel scolds the man and Rick turns to face him. "I put my family's life in your hands."

"So clear your head, and do something."

Rick doesn't say a word just walks out. Carl stands up, following after his dad.

Maggie stands up behind me and I stand to letting her through. She takes my hand, pulling me into a cell.

"You're a brave girl, Ains." Maggie tells me, sitting me down on the bed. "And you're an amazing shot." She continues crouching down in front of me. "But you are reckless."

"You didn't even think, you just ran into that field." She scolds me, placing a hand on my knee. "Ainsley, you could've been bit or shot."

"Hershel needed help." I tell Maggie and she sighs, taking one of my hands. "Your loyal. It's an amazing thing to have." She says, squeezing my hand. "But sometimes you have to put yourself first."

"I couldn't just leave him." I explain and Maggie nods. "I know-"

"If I didn't do anything, he could've died." I continue cutting the woman off. "And I don't want to bury anyone else, not if I can stop it." I tell her and she lets my hand go, letting it cup the side of my face.